Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
It is not just Bootle that can be seen as being forgotten in many ways by the higher powers that be, the area of Huyton, as well as other places in the North West and those beyond the remit of the Westminster village, has also suffered and its people, those who work in the on-going rejuvenation of Liverpool, must at times wonder when is it their turn and who really speaks for them, what weaver of words is their lauded king or queen to make the area stand up for itself.
As the sun stretched out over Bootle for the final time on what had been the busiest, most enjoyable day in the town’s history for quite some time, as the rays bounced off the church lead roof and through the disregarded old factory of Johnsons and the building site work that has been left to rot in recent times, came the final act of the Battle of the Bands hosted by Round Sound Radio on the stage by Johnsons’ Pavilion and over the noise of the late night traffic bringing people home from the big city neighbour, The Huyton Minstrel brought beautiful anarchy to the proceedings.
In full stride, he is a man hard to contain, the energy and delivery of the songs contain the right amount of sarcasm and truth to make you want him to go on all night, to be someone who would go further in the world and point out to committees and planners all that is wrong in their heads and get them to see the harsh realities of life that they conveniently avoid.
The day on the old bowling green lawn had been long, had been long awaited and much needed by those who took in the sight of the bands and acoustic players with great humour and a semblance of inner peace, now got their wish for the final hurrah of the event and it was one that The Huyton Minstrel was only too ready to oblige to.
Short, sweet, full of perfect mischief and adored by the crowd, the set may have been the P.S. of a love letter to the troops who had made it the success it undoubtedly was, but it still required that explosive finish and as the songs Life is Brootal, Electric Meter and Dog Hairs drowned out the world for a final time, that love letter was complete and instantly kissed.
The success of such events always depends on the ability of those to take the audience to a place where they go home and forget that work, that the harshness of life in one of the most socially deprived places in the country can bring them down, that the truth of existence is not in despair but in days like this, days which live long in the memory; days in which The Huyton Minstrel leaves his mark.
Ian D. Hall